Insert for container and container system including such insert

ABSTRACT

An insert for a container includes a bottom and a plurality of sidewalls projecting, especially vertically, upwardly therefrom which form a peripheral sidewall and enclose a container interior. The insert can be inserted into the container such that it fills an edge between the bottom and a corresponding sidewall and is shaped such that it forms an inclined or rounded transition from the sidewall to the bottom. A container system can include a container and an insert of this type.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to European Application No. 18 204 996.5, filed Nov. 7, 2018, the contents of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an insert for a container, to a container system including a container and such insert, and to a container.

BACKGROUND

From the state of the art, various containers for transporting different transport goods are known. Containers of such type are increasingly loaded and unloaded automatically rather than manually. For quickly and automatically unloading transport goods, especially packages or parcels, from a container, a robot having a suction member can be used, for example. Said robot adheres to the upper side of the transport goods or parcel, resp., lifts the same from the container and places the same outside the container. Instead of a suction member, also a gripper may be provided. Such containers are usually densely packed. However, the smaller the transport goods or parcels inside the container, the smaller the surface to which the suction gripper can adhere. Especially the parcels which are adjacent to the inner face of the sidewall or are located in the corners of the container can be hardly or not at all gripped by the suction gripper, because the robot arm has certain dimensions which it requires for stability, electric, pneumatic or hydraulic supply in order to actuate the suction member or the gripper that is located at the head. Thus, the distance between the suction member or gripper and the sidewall becomes too large to be capable of gripping the parcels that are located directly at the sidewall. As a result, the container may not be completely automatically unloaded and the remaining parcels have to be removed manually or otherwise.

For this reason, the parcels need a certain distance from the boundary. If, however, the parcels are loaded from the first at a particular distance from the sidewall, on the one hand, valuable loading space will be lost and, on the other hand, such minimum distance from the sidewall cannot be maintained as during transport the parcels are sliding toward the sidewall.

Therefore, it is the object of the invention to provide a container or an apparatus which facilitates automatic unloading of bulk material or transport goods, especially by means of a robot arm, from a container in a simple manner.

SUMMARY

The invention relates to an insert for a container having a bottom and a plurality of sidewalls projecting, especially vertically, upwards therefrom which form a peripheral sidewall and enclose a container interior. Said insert can be inserted into the container such that it fills or lines an (inner) edge between the bottom and a corresponding sidewall and is shaped such that it forms an inclined or rounded transition from the sidewall to the bottom.

In other words, the invention relates to an, especially strip-shaped, insert which is formed separately from a container having a bottom and plural sidewalls projecting, especially vertically, upwards therefrom which form a peripheral sidewall and enclose a container interior, and thus can be inserted into the edge area between the sidewall and the bottom such that it centers transport goods, especially packages and/or parcels located in the container interior toward the middle of the container. Accordingly, the insert covers the inner corner or edge area between the bottom of the container and the inner surface of the sidewall.

It is the advantage of such insert that, where needed, it can be inserted into the container but can also be removed from the same again. The separate manufacture of the centering device (insert) and the container is thus more cheaper than in a case in which the centering device is formed integrally with the container. As the transition is inclined or rounded from the bottom to the sidewalls, parcels which are present in the inner corner area of the container are resting on the insert tilted/inclined toward the middle of the container in the area of the insert. Alternatively, it is also possible that said inclined parcels are sliding or tilting inwardly from the insert due to their dead weight, as soon as parcels located further inside are removed, and thus are spaced apart from the sidewalls of the container at least by the width of the insert. This allows for especially easy unloading of the parcels from the container.

It is another advantage of the insert that already existing containers can be retrofitted with said insert.

Moreover, depending on the dimensions of the transport goods, inserts of appropriate size (having a larger or smaller ramp) can be used to appropriately adapt the centering function to the transport goods.

The radius of the rounded transition or, resp., the dimension of the inclined transition (cathetus) may be larger than or equal to 5 mm, preferably larger than or equal to 10 mm, especially larger than or equal to 20 mm. In addition, or alternatively, the radius of the rounded transition or, resp., the dimension of the inclined transition (cathetus) may be smaller than or equal to 80 mm, preferably smaller than or equal to 60 mm, especially smaller than or equal to 40 mm.

The angle of the transition with the bottom plane may be from 15° to 75°, preferably 45°. Said angle may be selected in response to the bulk material.

It is moreover possible to insert a plurality of inserts, especially four inserts, into the container interior in such a way that they cover the complete area of the peripheral (inner) edge between the bottom and the side wall. This offers the advantage that the inserts can be assembled/stuck together and can be selected corresponding to the container size.

Further, the insert may be a closed, especially rectangular frame. This offers the advantage that the complete inner corner area of the container is covered by the frame and the frame is stable. This facilitates handling thereof. Removing/inserting is easier and quicker as compared to plural inserts.

It may further be provided that the insert has a triangular cross-sectional profile, the outer surface of the insert being parallel to the sidewall in the inserted condition and abutting on the latter and the lower side of the insert in the inserted condition being parallel to the bottom and resting on the bottom. Thus, the insert is inserted into the container in an especially space-saving manner. An insert of such triangular cross-sectional profile can be manufactured in an especially simple and material-saving manner.

Moreover, the insert can be configured such that at its outer face it has a first guiding device which when the insert is inserted into the container and, in the inserted condition, interacts with a second guiding device which is formed to be complementary to the first guiding device at an inner surface of the sidewall. Guiding device of this type provided at the container and the insert enable the insert to be positioned especially easily and safely within the container.

The first guiding device may be in the form of an, especially T-shaped or dovetailed, guiding lug which is provided in the center of the insert or on one side of the insert.

It is further possible that the first guiding device is formed of a plurality of, especially T-shaped or dovetailed, guiding lugs which are spread over the entire (longitudinal) extension of the insert and are spaced apart from one another at a predetermined, especially uniform, distance.

With the aid of such profile of the first guiding device, the insert can be prevented from slipping when inserted into the container or is displaced relative to the sidewall. Even tilting of the insert relative to the bottom can be suppressed with the aid of the first guiding device configured in this way.

It is moreover imaginable that the insert includes a first engaging device on its lower side so as to interact with a second engaging device formed to be complementary thereto at the bottom of the container.

The first engaging device permits easy positioning of the insert on the container bottom and, instead of or together with the first guiding device, contributes to preventing the insert in the inserted condition from shifting within the container relative to the sidewall and/or the bottom.

The first engaging device may be in the form of an engaging rib which is arranged perpendicularly to the insert and centrally at the insert or on one side of the insert.

Further, the first engaging device may be formed of a plurality of engaging ribs that are disposed perpendicularly to the insert and are spread over the entire (longitudinal) extension of the insert, that each extend over the entire lower side and that are spaced apart at a predetermined, especially uniform, distance which preferably corresponds to the distance between two guiding lugs.

Said plurality of engaging ribs helps to prevent the insert from getting out of the intended position in an especially safe manner.

The insert may be made from one piece, especially from one material, preferably from plastic material.

In case that the insert is made from one piece, especially easy handling of the insert and especially easy insertion/removal of the insert into/from the container is possible. In case that the insert is made from one material and especially in case that the insert is made from plastic material, the manufacture of the insert is especially cost-efficient.

When the insert has a hollow cross-section, the weight and the material costs of the insert are reduced.

Moreover, a container system comprising a container having a bottom and a plurality of sidewalls which project, especially vertically, upwardly therefrom and which form a peripheral sidewall and enclose a container interior, and comprising an insert according to the invention is provided.

In the container system of this type, in the container a second guiding device in the form of a plurality of, especially T-shaped or dovetailed, guiding grooves may be configured, wherein the guiding grooves each extend from the upper edge of the sidewall toward the bottom, are spread over the entire sidewall and are spaced apart from one another at a distance corresponding to the guiding lugs.

In addition, or alternatively thereto, in the container a second engaging device may be configured in the form of a plurality of engaging grooves which are spaced apart from one another at the same distance as the engaging ribs and each extend over the full width and, resp., the full length of the bottom.

Said guiding grooves and, resp., engaging grooves of the container along with the guiding lugs and engaging ribs of the insert help to realize particularly safe insertion of the insert as well as a position of the insert within the container that is protected against shifting.

The insert may be laid, clipped or welded into the container.

According to an alternative aspect of the invention, the container has a bottom and a plurality of sidewalls projecting, especially vertically, upwardly therefrom which form a peripheral sidewall and enclose a container interior. According to the invention, an inner edge area between the bottom and a corresponding sidewall of the container, preferably including all inner edges between the bottom and the sidewall, has a transition inclined, especially about 45°, or rounded from the sidewall to the bottom. Thus, the transition is not formed by an insert but is formed within the container itself, i.e. is integrally formed. Said container offers the same advantages as the afore-described container system and merely differs therefrom by the fact that, instead of a separate insert, the container itself is provided with an inclined or rounded transition between the sidewall and the bottom.

In a way similar to the insert, the radius of the rounded transition and, resp., the dimension of the inclined transition (cathetus) may be larger than or equal to 5 mm, preferably larger than or equal to 10 mm, especially larger than or equal to 20 mm. In addition, or alternatively, the radius of the rounded transition and, resp., the dimension of the inclined transition (cathetus) may be smaller than or equal to 80 mm, preferably smaller than or equal to 60 mm, especially smaller than or equal to 40 mm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the insert according to the invention as well as of the container system is described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Here like reference numerals are assigned to like elements. The embodiments are exemplary only and the invention is not limited to said embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a container comprising an insert inserted in the container;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the insert from above;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the insert from below;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the container and the insert shown in a condition before the insert is inserted into the container;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective sectional view along the line I-I and the line II-II from FIG. 1 and illustrates the insert inserted in the container;

FIG. 6 shows a front sectional view along the line I-I and the line II-II from FIG. 1 and illustrates the insert inserted into the container and two packages arranged by the insert; and

FIG. 7 shows a perspective sectional view along the line I-I and the line II-II from FIG. 1 and illustrates the insert inserted in the container and two packages arranged by the insert.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described on the basis of the related figures.

FIG. 1 shows an insert 1 that is inserted in a container 2 and here is formed of a frame. However, it is equally possible that the insert is formed of a plurality of separate, especially four, parts which can be assembled to form a frame. The container 2 has a rectangular bottom 4 and four sidewalls 6 protruding vertically therefrom forming a peripheral sidewall of the container 2. The sidewall together with the bottom 4 encloses a container interior. The insert 1 in the shown example rests with its lower side 8 on the bottom 4 and is adjacent with its outer face 10, which is here parallel to each of the sidewalls 6, to the inner surface of the sidewall. On the outer surface, the sidewall includes reinforcing ribs 12 for reinforcing said sidewall. The reinforcing ribs span the surface area of the container 2 and divide said surface area into segments.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the frame 1 from above. In this embodiment, the frame is configured such that its main side/inclined side 14 is slanted. It is equally imaginable, however, that its main side 14 is formed to be rounded inwardly (concavely) or outwardly (convexly).

It is evident that, at its four outer surfaces 10, the frame 1 includes a plurality of projections or, resp., guiding lugs 16 forming a first guiding device. The guiding lugs 16 are spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance and are arranged on the outer surface 10 of the frame 1 such that they are aligned with an upper edge 18 of the frame 1. The guiding lugs 16 have a T profile. The outer surface of the guiding lugs 16 is parallel to the outer surface 10 of the frame 1. At the bottom edges of the outer surface 10 and the inclined surface 14 of the frame 1 a plurality of (trapezoidal) projections 20 is arranged which are provided in the same number as the guiding lugs 16 and are each at the same height and thus are spaced apart from one another by the same distance as the guiding lugs 16. The projections 20 thus continue the bottom edges of the outer surface 10 and the inclined surface 14 of the frame 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates the frame 1 in a perspective bottom view. It is evident that the frame 1 is hollow on its lower side and, resp., on the side facing the bottom 4 in the inserted condition and includes a plurality of reinforcing ribs 22 between the insides of the outer surface 10 and the inclined surface 14. The reinforcing ribs 22 take a double-T shape on the lower side and, resp., on the side facing the bottom 4 in the inserted condition and form the projections 20. Each reinforcing rib 22 protrudes from the bottom edges of the outer surface 10 and the inclined surface 14 of the insert. The reinforcing ribs 22 are spaced apart from one another at the same distance as the guiding lugs 16. It is evident that the four corners 24 of the frame 1 are further reinforced via reinforcing elements 26 to increase the stability of the frame 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates the container 2 and the frame 1 that is shown in such a position above the container 2 that it can be inserted into the container 2 by a vertical movement toward the container 2. It is evident in this context that the guiding lugs 16 are located on a vertical straight line with the guiding grooves 28 of the container 2 which constitute the second guiding device. The guiding grooves 28 are spaced apart from one another at the same distance as the guiding lugs 16. The guiding grooves 28 are provided to the effect that the guiding lugs 16 engage in the guiding grooves 28 when the frame 1 is inserted into the container 2, and therefore show a T profile that is formed to be complementary to the T profile of the guiding lugs 16. The guiding grooves 28 are continuous and thus form an opening from the container interior to the outer area of the container 2. Moreover, the guiding grooves 28 are inwardly offset against the surface area of the container 2.

At least two guiding grooves 28 are arranged between the reinforcing ribs 12 on the longitudinal side of the container 2, wherein on the transverse side of the container 2 one guiding groove 28 is provided between two respective reinforcing ribs 12. The guiding grooves 28 extend from the upper edge of the sidewall of the container 2 to a stop 30 vertically toward the bottom. In the inserted condition, the lower side of the guiding lugs 16 is adjacent to the stops 30 of the guiding grooves 28. The distance between the bottom 4 and the stop 30 is selected such that the bottom edges of the frame 1 (in the area between two engaging ribs 22) rest on the bottom 4. When the frame 1 is in the condition inserted in the container 2, the interaction of guiding lugs 16 and guiding grooves 28 prevents the frame 1 from shifting and being displaced relative to the bottom 4 and to the sidewall.

Moreover, in the inserted condition, the projections 20 and the reinforcing ribs 22 engage in engaging grooves 32 provided at the bottom and constituting the second engaging device. The engaging grooves 32 are spaced apart from one another at the same distance as the reinforcing ribs 22 and extend over the entire length and, resp., width of the bottom 4 and are aligned in parallel to one another as well as to the sidewall. Thus, the bottom 4 is subdivided into a plurality of squares (rectangles) parallel to one another. The interaction between the projections 20 and, resp., reinforcing ribs 22 and the engaging grooves 32 further prevents the frame 1 from shifting and being displaced relative to the bottom 4 and the sidewall.

FIG. 5 illustrates the container 2 in a perspective sectional view. Here, the triangular cross-sectional profile of the frame 1 which is inserted in the container 2 is clearly visible. Further, the sectional profile shows the guiding lug 16 which abuts on the stop 30 and simultaneously engages in the guiding groove 28. The reinforcing ribs 22 and, resp., the projections 20 engage in the engaging grooves 32.

FIG. 6 illustrates the container 2 in a front sectional view and FIG. 7 illustrates the container 2 in a perspective sectional view. In this case, too, the frame 1 is in the condition inserted in the container 2. A first lower parcel P1 rests flatly on the container bottom 4. Because of the frame 1, it has slipped inwardly away from the sidewall. Thus, the parcel P1 is spaced apart from the sidewall so far that it can be gripped and removed by a robot arm having a suction gripper.

When on the first parcel P1 another second parcel P2 is located (as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7), the latter drops down after the first parcel has been removed and is equally moved or tilted inwardly via the slope of the insert such that it is substantially located at the position where the first parcel P1 was located, i.e. at a sufficiently large distance from the sidewall such that the second parcel can equally be easily removed. The principle is exemplified only by way of two parcels P1, P2. In practice, the container is completely filled with parcels such that, after removal of the parcels that are located further inside, the parcels located directly on the sidewall will slide inwardly or tilt inwardly via the ramp/slope/rounding of the insert.

The insert 1 may be loosely inserted into the container 2 as in the described embodiment. As an alternative, it may also be clipped or otherwise connected, e.g. welded, to the container, however. In accordance with another alternative embodiment, the inclined or rounded transition between the sidewall and the bottom is formed directly/integrally within the container. 

1. An insert for a container comprising a bottom and a plurality of sidewalls projecting upwardly therefrom forming a peripheral sidewall and enclosing a container interior, the insert being insertible into an inner edge area between the bottom and a sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls of the container and is shaped such that it forms an inclined or rounded transition from said sidewall to the bottom.
 2. The insert according to claim 1, wherein the insert is a closed frame.
 3. The insert according to claim 1, wherein the insert has a triangular cross-sectional profile, wherein the outer surface of the insert in an inserted condition is parallel to the sidewall and is adjacent to the sidewall, and the lower side of the insert in the inserted condition is parallel to the bottom and rests on the bottom.
 4. The insert according to claim 1, wherein the insert on its outer surface includes a first guiding device which, when the insert is inserted into the container and is in the inserted condition, interacts with a second guiding device which is formed to be complementary to the first guiding device on an inner surface of the sidewall.
 5. The insert according to claim 4, wherein the first guiding device is formed of one or more guiding lugs which are arranged centrally of the insert or are spread over the entire extension of the insert and are spaced apart from one another at a predetermined distance.
 6. The insert according to claim 1, wherein the insert includes a first engaging device at its lower side so as to interact with a second engaging device which is formed to be complementary thereto at the bottom of the container.
 7. The insert according to claim 6, wherein the first engaging device is formed of a plurality of engaging ribs which are arranged perpendicularly to the insert and are spread over the entire extension of the insert, while extending each over the entire lower side and being spaced at a predetermined distance which corresponds to the distance between two guiding lugs.
 8. A container system comprising: a container having a bottom and a plurality of sidewalls projecting upwardly therefrom which form a peripheral sidewall and enclose a container interior; and an insert according to claim
 1. 9. The container system according to claim 8, wherein in the container a second guiding device is configured in the form of a plurality of guiding grooves, each of which extends from the upper edge of the sidewall toward the bottom, which are spread over the entire sidewall and are spaced apart from one another at a distance corresponding to the guiding lugs; and/or in the container a second engaging device is configured in the form of a plurality of engaging grooves which are spaced apart from one another at the same distance as the engaging ribs and each of which extends over the complete width and, resp., the complete length of the bottom.
 10. A container comprising a bottom and a plurality of sidewalls projecting, upwardly therefrom which form a peripheral sidewall and enclose a container interior, wherein an inner edge area between the bottom and a corresponding sidewall of the container includes a transition inclined or rounded from the sidewall to the bottom.
 11. The insert according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of sidewalls project vertically from the bottom.
 12. The insert according to claim 10, wherein the transition is inclined by 45° with respect to the bottom.
 13. The insert according to claim 5, wherein the one or more guiding lugs are T-shaped or dovetailed.
 14. The insert according to claim 5, wherein the one or more guiding lugs are spaced apart from one another at a predetermined uniform distance.
 15. The insert according to claim 2, wherein the insert is a rectangular frame. 